Two Norwich police officers suffered minor injuries late Thursday night after their police cruiser was hit by a pickup truck that they had been pursuing.
Police have charged Romance W. Brown, 24, of Norwich, with second-degree assault and reckless driving.
Norwich Officers Kenneth Wright and Christopher Nott stopped Brown's car at Boswell Avenue and Seventh Street at 11:16 p.m.
After a brief interaction, Brown sped away. Police chased him, but ended the pursuit after about a minute when officers lost sight of the car as Brown went south on Prospect Street, police said.
As the two officers were heading back to the police station, Brown turned around, went through a stop sign and hit the cruiser at 10th and Prospect streets, police said.
Three parked vehicles were damaged in addition to the cruiser and the pickup, police said. Debris, including a car bumper and broken glass, are still scattered about the scene hours later.
The two officers sustained injuries and were treated at Backus Hospital and released, according to Norwich Police.
Brown was apprehended at the scene of the crash and was also taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. He too was released.
Brown was charged with assault in the second degree, reckless driving, interfering with an officer, failure to obey a stop sign and engaging police in pursuit.
According to court records, Brown is due in court next week on disorderly conduct and criminal mischief charges from a 2012 arrest.
Bond was set at $100,00 and Brown is due in court on Jan. 11.
His passenger was arrested and charged with violations unrelated to the crash, police said.
Photo Credit: Steve Miller, NBC Connecticut